Q. I am a CSRS Offset GS14/10 employee who left Veterans Affairs Department employment in 1985 after 11+ years and returned to VA employment in 1991. I will be 66 years old in July and am considering retiring Jan. 3, 2014. At that point, I will have 24 years of offset employment, 30 years of Social Security contributions (including the 24 offset years) and 37 years of service (including sick leave).
My wife is in a similar CSRS Offset situation and is also considering retirement Jan. 3, 2014, at age 61. She will not take Social Security benefits until age 66. She will have 18 years of offset employment, 19 years of Social Security contributions (including the 18 offset years) and 32 years of service.
What impact will offset and the windfall elimination provision have on my VA pension and Social Security benefits?
A. Your CSRS annuity will be reduced by the amount of Social Security benefit you earned while a CSRS Offset employee. The same is true for your wife. Both of you would also be subject to the windfall elimination provision if you had fewer than 30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security. Note: While someone would have only needed to earn $4,520 in 2012 to earn four Social Security credits, he or she would have had to earn $20,475 for it to be considered substantial earnings. For more information about the WEP, go to http://ssa.gov.pubs/10045.html.
